EPISODE 26
If It Wasn’t For Bad Luck…Part VI
“Now, when we
get to the castle, Janel, you follow my lead.”
“Of course.
You’re the one with the mission.” She grinned up at him. “I’m just one of your
retainers.”
One of the best.
“Thank you,
Lucky.”
And don’t talk to me out loud. Either of
you. The Maridons wouldn’t understand. Superstitious lot, the Maridons.
They both
laughed.
You mean I can talk to you in my head?
Yes, you can. And you can use me to talk
to Janel if you wish. We usually don’t use that Power except in emergencies,
but since I’m already talking to Janel, it would be rather silly to stop.
All right. Janel, can you understand me?
Yes, I can. This is weird.
No it isn’t. It’s how I communicate.
Sorry.
Now, let’s not just stand here. On with
your mission, Hand. Your Sword and your loyal retainer are here to support you.
They all
laughed and stepped up to the gate. The guard, a huge Maridon with a halbred in
his mailed fist, looked down at them. “State your business.”
“Lord Johannes
Skonric of Inderjorne with a private message for Lord Ness.”
“Do you have a
token to prove your intent?”
“The name of
Lord Skonric will be enough.”
The big man
grinned and tilted his head. “We’ll see about that very soon.” He slanted the
halbred aside to allow them in, nodding to another soldier to escort them.
Janel had never
been in a castle, and the Cat could feel her awe. So could her Hand.
This is just a little one, Janel. Ours
at home is much bigger.
Of course it is.
His home was a
very strong image in his mind, and the Cat picked it out and sent it to the
girl.
“Oh! It is
large, isn’t it?”
A new voice
intruded. “We like to think so.”
Both of them
started and turned to face the man who had spoken. He was a middle-aged Maridon
man in doublet and hose, his cropped beard and gold chain indicating his
lineage.
Janel
immediately dropped a curtsey and faded back. Johannes gave a proper bow. “Lord
Ness. Good to see you again.”
“It is good to
see you, my Lord. It will be doubly good if you have the right message for me.”
Johannes looked
around. “Perhaps somewhere more private?”
“Of course.”
Then he noticed the Sword. “I though we had decided you were better to come
unarmed.”
“I did, my
Lord. But I picked this up along the way.”
“You picked up
a sword?”
“I’d like to
keep that private, too, my Lord. Do you have somewhere my…retainer can wait
while we talk?”
“Of course.” He
glanced at her. “Rather a strange retainer.”
“Oh, I picked
her up along the way, too.” He grinned at Janel’s indignant start. “She was visiting
with family in Marida, and I am to escort her home.”
“I see. Well,
she can wait in the kitchen, I suppose.” He waved a hand and a servant
appeared. “Take her and give her a bite to eat. Send something appropriate for
us.”
“Yes my lord.
This way, Mistress.”
Janel gave
Johannes a surprised glance at this title, then raised her head and graciously
followed the servant. As she left, though, the Cat could feel her hesitation.
Don’t worry, I’m still here. I’ll let
you know what’s going on.
“So, any
trouble on your journey?”
Johannes
thought quickly, but the lord was only making polite conversation. He turned
and led the way to a comfortable interview room, furnished with long,
upholstered lounges, pillows scattered on them. Sitting down, he leaned
gracefully on one elbow, pulling his feet up beside him. Johannes, after a bit
of hesitation, did the same, wriggling into as comfortable a position as he
could.
“So. What is
the answer to my proposal?”
“The answer is
‘Yes,’ my Lord.”
“Is that all?”
“Generally. You
were very specific, and I don’t know all the details, but my father is
interested in the trade. We were more concerned about the route.”
“Which is why I
suggested your path to get here.”
“Yes, but I may
have solved that problem for you.” He squirmed on the unusual seating. “Or made
it worse.”
“What do you
mean?”
“There was some
problem with Lord Juan, was there not?”
“Yes. He’s a
difficult man to understand.”
That’s
an understatement.
“Wha…Oh. Yes,
I’m sure he was.”
Sorry, I know you weren’t expecting
that. You’ll get used to it.
“What do you
mean, ‘was’?”
“Well, I met
him on the road, my Lord…”
“And…?”
“I don’t know
quite how to put it…”
“Just tell the
story. I don’t need a preamble like a theatre piece.”
“Sorry, my
Lord. I’ll tell it straight. I was walking along the road, minding my own
business. I was supposed to meet my retainer…that’s Janel, and she hadn’t shown
up. I wasn’t too concerned, because I could always pick her up on the way
back.”
Are you listening to this, Janel?
Yes. What is he talking about?
We’re about to find out.
“Anyway, I was
walking along and I heard voices. Loud ones. Especially a girl’s voice, and she
didn’t sound happy. I decided to investigate, but quietly, because I wasn’t
supposed to draw attention to myself.”
“Those were
your instructions.”
“Yes, my Lord,
well, I’m sorry, but this is what happened. I came to this little clearing just
off the road. Lord Juan was there, and he had Janel. He was toying with her, my
Lord. Teasing her like a cat with a mouse.”
Cat’s don’t like to call it teasing. We
consider it training for the hunt.
“I didn’t know
exactly what to do, so I listened. After a while, from the way he was talking,
I realized that he intended to kill her. After having his way with her first,
of course.
“That decided
me. I’m a pretty glib talker, my Lord, and I wasn’t supposed to make any waves,
so I left the sword hidden in the bushes and confronted him. It didn’t take
long to realize my mistake.” He fingered the slash on his left ear.
“He attacked
you?”
“He made it
very clear that he was going to kill both of us. He was making jokes about who
he would kill first. I tell you, my Lord, that man was not completely sane!”
“I could have
told you that. Obviously you killed him. How?”
“It’s a very
sharp sword my Lord, and he wasn’t expecting it.”
That’s a lie! He didn’t kill the
bastard. I did!
It isn’t a lie. He didn’t say he killed
him. Lord Ness said that.
Oh. You’re right.
Listen.
“So what did
you do then?”
“We put his
body back on his horse, brushed out our tracks, and left.”
The other lord
leaned back on his cushion, looking at the ceiling, his fingers steepled. “So
Lord Juan will be found, either on his horse or on the way to his castle after
his horse comes home with blood on the saddle. At a time when I was most
definitely at home. This could work out.”
Johannes
shrugged. “I did the best I could, my Lord. I’m sorry if it caused any trouble,
but I don’t see that I need to let myself or my retainer get killed, just to
smooth a trade route.”
“No, you’re
quite right, my lad. Quite right. And having Juan out of the way will actually
make things better. I think it will work out just fine. In fact, I’m going to
send you back with a contract. I hadn’t planned to because I was afraid you
might get caught, but now I think it’s worth the risk. I assume you’ll be staying
the night?”
“Actually, my
Lord, I’d like to be getting back. We have a long way to go, and there’s plenty
of daylight left. My father will be anxious to get the contract.”
The lord
grinned. “And you have a loyal retainer to keep you company on the road.”
What? I heard that!
Johannes pushed
his palms forward. “She’s only a girl, my Lord, and we don’t make use of our
retainers that way.” He grinned. “Besides, you don’t know this retainer. I’m
quite happy keeping my distance.”
I heard that, too. Wait until I get you
alone on the road!
I’m shaking in my boots. Now don’t
distract me. This is important.
The other Lord
did not notice Johannes’s distraction, as a servant had just entered with a
tray. “Have a bite to eat, then, and I’ll get the contract packaged up. I’ll be
back in a moment.”
The food was a
series of small, fancy Maridon dishes, but Johannes ploughed through them, as
well as a few sips of the wine, which was too sweet to really quench his
thirst.
You can promise yourself a decent mug of
ale the moment we cross into Inderjorne, my Lord.
I can and will, Lucky. This calls for a
celebration.
Let’s not celebrate too soon. We still
have to cross back through Lord Juan’s demesne, and them hunting for his
murderer.
I hadn’t thought of that.
You’re armed, now. Better than armed.
You have me.
And me. I’m waiting at the gate.
Are you? I’m not sure which is the
greater danger.
Don’t worry. I’ll figure out a way to
keep you alive. After I’m finished with you.
Lord Ness
returned with a small parcel, well wrapped and sealed. Johannes took it without
ceremony and slipped it into his shoulder bag.
“Well, I would
like to provide entertainment for one who has done me such a favour, but I
realize you would like to get home as soon as possible.”
“Yes, my Lord. There’s
no sense me staying, because I don’t know enough about the business to tell you
anything you don’t know.”
“When you go,
why don’t you take the route through Brackenburg? That neatly misses Lord
Juan’s lands.”
“I just might
do that. An extra day’s walk is worth it.”
“Right. I’ll
call your retainer.”
“She’s already
waiting at the gate.”
Oops.
“She is? Let’s
go, then.”
That was a close one. He assumes a
servant told you.
I’m just getting used to this.
Don’t worry. I am bolstering his
enthusiasm for the business deal, and he is not paying attention to the minor
details of servants.
You can do that?
And much more.
Janel was
waiting for Johannes at the gate, and the look she gave him did not bode well
for his continued happiness. Ready any
time you are, my Lord.
Just don’t attack him within sight of
the town, all right?
If you say so. I don’t want witnesses.
With this conversation
rattling in his mind Johannes was having trouble concentrating on his farewells,
but he managed, and soon they were striding down the street towards the town.
At least, he was striding, at a speed she was hard put to maintain.
“What’s your
hurry? Trying to get away from me?”
“No, I’m in a
hurry to get home.” He slowed. “Now that my business is completed successfully
and you are a member of my demesne, I can tell you about it.”
“Flattery is
going to get you nowhere. But you can tell me about it while you anticipate
your demise.”
“Well, my
grandfather has been investigating trading opportunities in Marida. We have
products like wool and hardwood that the Maridons want. Now that there is less
conflict along the border, he made an offer to Lord Ness. It turns out that
your friend Lord Juan was the main problem, and now that he’s gone, they can go
ahead much faster than they thought.”
“If you can get
home past Lord Juan’s vengeful soldiers. And your vengeful retainer. How dare
you tell that story?”
“What did you
expect me to say?”
“How about the
truth?”
“That you
killed Lord Juan with your magic Sword? Are you sure that’s the story you want
floating around.”
“…I guess not.”
“And I didn’t
really lie. He assumed that I killed the man, and I didn’t straighten him out. I
just made it simpler for him. You know how people are. They like to believe the
easiest story.”
“I don’t give
much thought to what people like to believe. I prefer to tell the truth.”
“Which is why
you’re the retainer, and I’m the diplomat.”
“You, a
diplomat?”
“Why do you
think my father sent me?”
“Because he
wanted a break from your lies?”
“Janel, I don’t
think this is the way a retainer talks to her liege lord.”
She sighed.
“No, my Lord, you’re right. I’m sorry. I just…well, I was proud of myself. I
won’t be disrespectful again.”
“And I’m proud
of you. We just can’t tell anyone around here.”
And so am I. You did very well. For a
girl.
“What! What do
you mean…? Oh. You’re laughing at me, aren’t you?”
He’s laughing. I am much too dignified.
“You know,
you’re not exactly what I expected of a magic Sword.”
Since you weren’t expecting a magic
Sword at all, I don’t suppose I am.
“You know what
I mean.”
Of
course I do. I can read it in your mind.
“You can read
her thoughts?” Johannes took his hand slowly off her hilt. “Can you read mine?”
I suppose now is a good time to start
your training. I don’t mind if Janel listens. Can’t do any harm, I suppose. I
can’t really read what you are thinking. I can see pictures if you are thinking
strongly about them, and sense emotions, and I put that together with what is
happening and I get a pretty good idea. But I can’t read actual thoughts unless
you put them into words in your mind.
“That’s good.”
“Too bad.”
Their comments,
postitive and negative came together, and they laughed.
Johannes looked
down at his companion. “I take it back. I don’t want to read your thoughts.
You’re already enough trouble.”
“I’m trouble?
You’re the one…no, I promised not to be disrespectful.” But you can’t stop what I’m thinking.
Wait a moment. You’re not going to use
me to insult him.
“Why not?”
Because it’s not fair. And I don’t have
to pass the message along.
“But you will,
because it’s more fun.”
My Lord, you are going to have to
control your retainer. She is not good for my development as a Weapon of
dignity and honour.
Johannes
laughed. “I just can’t think what I’m going to do with her when I get her back
to the castle, where everyone is proper and polite. I think I’ll just turn her
over to my mother and get my grandfather to send me on some sort of mission
that will keep me away for about ten years. Maybe she’ll grow up by then.”
I’d like to warn you, my Lord, that you
are out of sight of the village, and thus outside the protection of witnesses.
Janel stalked
over to the other side of the road and continued. “I am acting with dignity as
becomes my station as the handmaiden to Lady…what is your mother’s name?”
“My mother’s
name is Lady Caterina Skonric, if you must know, and she is the spark that
lights the fire of the Skonric name.”
Their laughter
echoed through the forest, and they strode on towards Inderjorne.
Lady Caterina Skonric. Well. And now I
know who you are, young Johannes. How very interesting. I’m really looking
forward to the next few years…
And here ends this edition of “Sword Called Kitten, the Early
Years.”
RETURN TO HOME
TOP
|